Friday, March 22, 2013

Definition:

Hello all!

I can't believe how fast time is going by.

Yesterday I realized that I only have seven weeks left in this semester. Wasn't it just January yesterday?

My spring break starts today. I plan on using this time off to get moving with my creativity and reconnect with my fire.

Which is a fancy way of saying I'm going to light a fire under my ass.

I was stumped on what I wanted this Friday's topic to be, but then I remembered something that I watched on Tuesday and POOF, the idea popped into my mind. Isn't inspiration amazing? :)

I was watching a documentary on Bob Dylan. For those of you who don't know, Bob Dylan was very popular back in the day (and still now) for using his music to protest society.

Media began to label him as the "voice of the generation," the "leader of the protest."

But Bob didn't want that responsibility. He only wanted to make music.

At interviews and press conferences, media would constantly be trying to ask Bob to give himself a label and pin him down to agreeing that he was the voice of the generation, but he refused.

 He didn't want a label. He didn't want others to define him. He just was.

I think that's really important.

When others try to give you limitations, put a label on you, ask you to define yourself... don't do it.

Because you don't have to. And you can't. You cannot be defined because you're always changing. You're a million things at once.

Why do we need to choose just one?

Don't let others label you. When someone tries to, challenge them. Prove them wrong. Keep moving.

I wish you a happy week. Hugs and kisses.
I'll be attending the P!nk concert at Madison Square Garden tonight. What a way to kick off my spring break.

Love always,
Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

Friday, March 15, 2013

I'm On The Right Track... err... No.

Hello, all!

I've been extremely disappointed in myself lately.

I must apologize for being so inconsistent in my blogging and posting.

There has been something off with me lately, and I've yet to figure out what it is.

Not only has something been mentally off, something is physically off as well.

I'm very fatigued, feeling weak, mushy. I just haven't been feeling like myself.

I'm making every effort to get back in the swing of things, but I'm having difficulty.

This has inspired today's blog theme. Staying on track.

People often get into the habit of giving up when they feel they've lost their grip of something.

Whether it be a diet they're on, studying, writing, when we slip up it can be difficult to steady ourselves.

I refuse to allow myself to succumb to these feelings. I am determined to get back on track and continue on.

When you get off course, put your foot on the brake and take a second to sit back and reflect. Once you've evaluated where you took a wrong turn, turn the car back on and get moving in the right direction.

My foot is currently on the break. I'm reflecting. Bear with me as I do so. I appreciate everyone's support thus far.

You're the one steering your car. You have the control. Use that power to keep driving.

I love you all and I promise you I will start my car back up soon.

Since I didn't post any poems this week, I'm going to post TWO today at 2pm est.

Drive those cars!

Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

Friday, March 1, 2013

Bye, Bye, Bye!

What a week!

Hey readers,

I've been lacking in the posting department. I've missed this weeks poetry.

I have good excuses, though! Here me out:

On Tuesday I was in the hospital because my grandmother was getting a procedure done. She's fine now, but I had to be there.

Last night, I was at a show in NYC at the Highline Ballroom.

I've had a week full of stress and awesome moments. What is up with that, life?

I've been so distracted, I even forgot to make a session with my life coach this week!

Starting tomorrow, I'm back on track with things. Back to some me time.

What I really want today's blog to be about is drama. Actually, a dislike for drama.

I'm one of those crazy people (total sarcasm here) that hates drama.

Do you know those extremely intense individuals who feed off drama.

They enjoy being surrounded by drama or starting drama.

I've encountered many people like this in my lifetime.

What do I say? Bye, bye, bye!

I cut those people out of my life. Life is too short and too beautiful to be stressed out because people bring drama into your life.

It's time to discover whether you enjoy the drama and want to be surrounded by it, or you want to move on and focus on better things.

Personally, I think it's better to stay in the drama free zone. Things are A LOT easier that way.

Even if it's a situation where you can't cut ties with the person, whether they be family or someone close, maybe it's time to say "please don't involve me in it. Leave me out. I don't want to be involved."

That way, the person won't be tempted to come to you when they've got hold of some new drama.

Keep it positive and keep it moving.

In the words of Mary J. Blige, "NO MORE DRAMA."

Stay drama free this week. Much love to you all.
Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

Friday, February 22, 2013

What is IT?

Hello friends,

I'm so sorry this post is later than my usual Friday blogs. I've had a day of rest. I was feeling ill earlier and decided to take a nap, only to wake up hours later. Oops.

I've had an odd week full of mixed up schedules and running errands. Needless to say, I'm excited it's the weekend.

Upon returning back to school, I've really been enjoying my classes this semester. Particularly, one of my English classes.

We've been reading a lot of moving and inspiring books and poems that have been inspiring me non stop this past week.

Discussion in that class is what inspired last Friday's blog, and it has inspired today's!

So, what is IT?

IT is what we're looking for. What feeds our soul. It's what makes us the happiest and inspires us to get moving in the morning.

IT is what we're meant for. IT is what we need to do to feel most alive.

How do you find IT?

We can spend a lifetime looking for IT. Who's to say we'll ever find it?

I think that we'll all find IT at one point of another. I've already found my IT.

My IT is writing books of all different genres. Helping others who are in need of help. To help others find their IT. I want to use my own in order to help others find theirs.

My life coach once told me that you'll know what IT is when you see it.

If someone placed three potential career paths in front of you, you'd know in your gut which one you would pick.

I think that if we all search deep within us, we will find it.

Here are my tips to helping you find your IT:

Meditate. Spend some time every day delving into your soul. The answer will come to you through your own body.

Try different things. Get a feel of how you'd feel doing these certain things every day. You'll be able to narrow it down.

Listen to your heart.

I hope you all take some time this week to delve into your souls and try to find out what IT is for you.

XOXO,
Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

P.S. - I'm back in poet action! Catch up on my poetry HERE: http://christinabracco.tumblr.com

Friday, February 15, 2013

Dance The Night Away

What a crazy day!

Crazy because I completely forgot it was Friday. Hence, why this post is later than my usual Friday blogs.

I would first like to apologize for having not posted any poems this week.

I've found myself to be in a creative slump lately and I'm working on reconnecting with my creativity in order to continue writing.

How have I been doing that? By doing things that spark my creativity.

I've been doing a lot of cooking, baking, reading, singing, etc. to get myself back on track. It's been working little by little.

I did however, reconnect with something that has brought a positive energy back into my life that has been missing for a while.

Dance.

I've been dancing since I could walk. I would always create choreography to my favorite songs or learn the choreography and perfect it.

Dance was always a positive outlet for me. It's always been very therapeutic for me.

If I was angry or stressed about something, I'd go and dance and I'd be transported into another world.

The bad energy would leave my body with every move I made and I was full of happiness.

I moved 11 months ago in order to downsize. In doing so, I lost my spare dance room.

I've tried to keep up with it, but the lack of space limited my abilities and I was unable to dance freely.

This week I decided to clear all of the boxes in my basement and turn it into a dance area.

Best decision I've made in a while.

Getting back into dancing has been wonderful for me. I've found a new energy and passion that I lost for a while.

I'm even considering signing up for dance classes!

Is there something that you used to love to do, but lost the time or availability to do it? Reconnect with it. Trust me. It can be the smallest thing, but if it's something you loved and enjoyed, you will be amazed at what reconnecting with it can do for you.

Maybe there's something you'd love to try, but haven't tried yet. Try it!! Who knows what kind of energy you can receive from it.

Once I post this, I'm going to head down to my basement and dance.

Once you read this, I hope you think of that something that you want to reconnect with.

Get moving!

Much love to you all,
Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

Friday, February 8, 2013

Who Are YOU?

It's a rainy day here in New York. Supposedly, a blizzard named Nemo is on it's way.

If things happen as they say they will, I'll be thinking of my fellow east-coasters.

I had an interesting discussion with someone this week that inspired this weeks topic.

We were discussing the topic of life and what it's all about.

That's a very hard question to answer, isn't it? What is life about?

My answer: "Life is about finding what you love to do, and doing it no matter what."

Life is all about getting where you want to be and enjoying the process.

We can't just expect things to happen over night. Life doesn't work that way. Believe me, I wish it did.

Things take time. Why not enjoy the trip?

Their response: "It's more about the process rather than the product."

How true!

It takes a lot of work to become who we are. A LOT.

This brought up the question: "Who are human beings?"

Before you read our responses, think about what your answer would be.

Think of "being" as a verb.

We are forever being. Forever becoming. Forever changing.

"One is not born, but rather becomes a woman." - Simone De  Beauvoir

You can replace "woman" with anything. I was not born a spiritual thinker, but I became one.

Do you see?

We are flowers forever blooming.

YOU decide who you want to become. YOU decide if you enjoy the journey.

Who do you wish to become? Who are you becoming right now?

Today, I'm becoming a success.

Have a becoming week. Much love to you all.

XOXO Christina Bracco
https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

Friday, February 1, 2013

Theme of 2013

Happy February!

Something that's been on my mind a lot lately has been taking chances and starting new things.

Taking chances and starting new things has become the theme of 2013 for me.

The month of January was full of amazing things that I wouldn't have done a year ago. Not even a few months ago.

I have a great fear of the unknown. I think we all do, actually. Some fear it more than others.

I've always been very fearful of doing new things, meeting new people, going new places.

In the last month, I've already taken major steps to overcome that fear.

One of my favorite quotes is: "Anything worth doing has some fear attached to it."

Often times, we benefit most from doing the things that scare us.

If there's been something you've been wanting to do, but have been to nervous or afraid to do it... GO DO IT! 

Not only is there the potential that you can emotionally/physically/mentally benefit from it, but you will feel so great after doing it.

Even if things don't work out the way you hoped, you will still feel SO proud that you overcame that fear. 

There's also the potential of things turning out even better than you expected!

The other half of this theme, trying new things, is also a big one.

Whether it's trying a new class at the gym or trying a new food, try it! 

Experience new things, go new places, meet new people! LIVE LIFE!

If we don't try new things, we don't grow. 

I've been making every effort to try eery new thing that comes my way. I encourage you to do the same.

It's been a busy week for me. I started the new semester on Monday. Things are going great so far. 
Forgive me for being a little absent this week.
I'm back in action.

In honor of taking chances and trying new things, I have a new super secret project that I'm working on.

It relates to the new poll that is sitting in the top right corner of my blog. Please take a moment and vote!! It will be worth it. :)

Get out there and take chances this week! Report back with feedback.
Much love to you all. 

Christina Bracco

Friday, January 25, 2013

Would You Like To Accept?

Hello, all!

We've all struggled with being too hard on ourselves at one time or another. Some more than others. It's important we learn to be our own biggest fan, not our biggest critic.

I'm certainly my own worst critic the majority of the time. Whether it's looks, eating habits, work, writing, I'm never stuck on finding something to criticize myself about.

We need to learn to ease up on the self-judgement and increase self-LOVE.

There's enough people that will criticize you and find something wrong with what you're doing or what you look like. The important thing is to not add on to that yourself.

With great self-LOVE, we learn to block out the negativity of others and keep our confidence in tact.

If we're just adding on to the criticism, we're holding ourselves back from accomplishing all the things we hope to accomplish.

We don't have to be hard on ourselves. We need to love ourselves.

I know that's so cliche. "Love yourself. You're perfect just the way you are."

But in reality, when you love yourself, you're so much happier, confident, strong, and intriguing.

Everyone has things they wish they could change about themselves. I sure do.

The important thing to learn is to accept the things you wish you could change... because you can't change them.

One of my favorite prayers is the Serenity Prayer. Whether you're religious or not, I think this can speak to everyone:

"Grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change.
The courage to change the things that I can.
And the wisdom to know the difference."

The last line is most important. The wisdom to know the difference between what you can and cannot change.

Sometimes, you just have to accept that you do things a certain way, or you look a certain way.

Some things shouldn't be changed. You shouldn't want to change certain things. You were made this way for a reason.

Instead of picking yourself apart, build yourself up.

Declare your mind a judgement free zone!

Don't judge yourself. Don't criticize yourself. And don't beat yourself up when you make a mistake.

Love yourself and you'll succeed.

Love yourself to love others!

Do you declare your mind a judgement free zone?

Love, the judgement free,
Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0


Friday, January 18, 2013

An Evening of Inspiration

Hi friends!

It's been another week full of fun things.

The most exciting thing that happened this week was attending An Evening of Awesome, hosted by John and Hank Green.

I'm a huge fans of the Greens. They're incredibly talented and inspirational men. Go check them out on YouTube! (Vlogbrothers)

Attending this evening was one of the most inspirational things I've experienced in a while.

The evening was all about celebrating things that we love, people that we love, and ourselves.

I was inspired by so many special guests that were there.

I was inspired by John Green and Neil Gaiman (that's right, NEIL GAIMAN) as a writer, to always write, read a lot, read broadly, and believe in my abilities.

I was inspired by a new band I've discovered called The Mountain Goats. This two-man powerhouse brought down the house with beautiful songs with beautiful messages.

I was most inspired by an AMAZING singer/songwriter named Kimya Dawson.

Kimya sang two amazing songs that are all about embracing our own spirit, creativity, and dreams. Songs about finding peace in humanity and within ourselves.

I was so touched by Kimya, she brought me to tears.

I write a lot on this blog about my hopes for humanity. I want to spread peace and love to people all over the world. No matter who you are or where you come from. I feel that Kimyas music really expressed my own thoughts and feelings on life.

I was unsure as to what I wanted to write about in this weeks blog until I attended An Evening of Awesome and heard Kimya.

I may say it a lot, but I feel strongly bout it.

We as people, NEED to learn to respect the way other people choose to live their lives. Sometimes, it's not even a choice.

It is THEIR life. Unless they are truly harming others or themselves, it shouldn't make a difference to you who they love, what they love to do, how they love to dress, what they love to eat, what they think is waiting for them on the other side, etc.

It's important for the sake of humanity, for everyone to respect each other. Judgement is unnecessary. There is no one on this planet who is better than anyone else.

I just felt this idea is important to share. If we really want to change the world, we need to learn how to RESPECT and LOVE each other.

I leave you with one of Kimya's songs. It's such a powerful piece and it really gets across the message that I'm trying to send with this weeks blog. Check it out! And be sure to find Kimya on Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube.

"I fight for equal rights, and I fight for inner peace"

So spread love. Hug the people you love. Tell them you love them. And respect people who don't share the same beliefs as you. 

This year is all about trying to spread my message of love and peace. Lets help each other! 

I love you all. Sending you all virtual hugs. 
Christina Bracco


Friday, January 11, 2013

You're Blessed! Are You Aware?

Good morning, friends!
(Well, good morning if you're on the east coast of the US!)

I hope everyone is doing well. This has been a whirlwind week for me!

I think we often get so caught up in the bad, that we forget to realize and appreciate all the good that comes our way!

Like, Monday. On Monday, I had the unfortunate mishap where I feel down the stairs in my house. I was home alone, there was no significant injury. Just a lot of pain. I sat on the last step to give myself a moment to recover, and then continued on my trip to the kitchen. I was in pain, but I pushed through and decided to walk outside to get the mail. When I checked my mail I found that I had finally received a postcard that I have been looking forward to receiving for a while!

You go through something tough, but you are greatly rewarded for pushing through the pain.

Are you aware in the good that comes after something bad? Are you present in it?

It may be something as little as receiving a postcard, but that little act of kindness from Him shows that you will be rewarded for your suffering.

One of my dreams came true this week. I still haven't fully recovered from the glorious experience, and I'm still sitting on cloud nine.

I won't share the experience with you all. Maybe just not yet. It's something so personally fulfilling, I don't want to taint it by taking away the intimacy and authenticity of it.

I'm just feeling completely blessed in the new year! I feel something BIG coming. This is going to be a BIG year for me. I'm sure of it.

You know when you just feel something in your bones? I feel it.
This year will be a year full of blessings and new/life-changing experiences.

In order to stay aware of all the good things that happen every day, (believe it or not-something good happens every day), I've decided to work on a little project for 2013.

I'm calling it my "2013 Journal Journey"!

 Every day, I write a journal entry on my computer about my day. The things that happened that day, how I felt, what I'm thinking about.

I plan on writing one entry every day for the year 2013. At the end of the year, I will print every page out and get it bound. A sort of book, if you will. And I will read it to myself.

Maybe i'll start doing it every year. A document of my life to keep with me forever.

It's amazing how much you forget as time goes by. Being able to keep it with you will keep your memories alive, and keep you aware.

I hope you all took something from this blog. I hope this inspires you to focus on the good things that happen to you every day.

I wish you all a great week. I'll be seeing one of my favorite authors on Tuesday. He's a huge inspiration to me so this is another blessing and dream come true.

Stay aware and stay grateful!
Christina Bracco
PERSONAL TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ChristinaBracc0

Friday, January 4, 2013

Tunnel Vision!

Welcome to 2013!

In honor of this being my first blog of a brand new year, I'd like to dedicate this post to my goal for 2013.

Focus.

That's right! For me, 2013 is all about FOCUS! 

What am I focusing on?

I'm focusing on mastering my creativity and achieving all the goals I have for myself. 

I am focused on finishing Odyssey by June! Maybe even earlier! I want my book completed by mid-way through the year. And I want to have it published (self-published or not) by the end of the year.

I also want to get an illustrator and start working towards publishing my first children's book. 

I want to continue to grow and advance in my poetry. I hope to write one poem a day and to NEVER be late to publish on my poetry blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

I have so many goals for 2013 and I can't wait to watch them come to life. I'm excited to document this process every week via the magic of this blog!

It's important to be dedicated and FOCUSED on the things you want. Write down your goals and work towards them every day!

2013 is all about mastering my craft. 

What is 2013 about for you? Are you focused on it?

Ask yourselves these questions and get cracking to make what you want happen!

I love you all. I believe in you all.

Christina Bracco